COWCATCHER Publications

What Smart Students Know

Maximum Learning. Better Grades. Minimum Time.

E X C E R P T S F R O M T H E E X P E R T S

Take it from
Adam Robinson,
co-founder of the
Princeton Review
There are few things more
overwhelming than the price tag of a
college education, so why not let the
expert tell you what he knows.
Invest in your future by spending
some time learning some very
Don’t have time to read the valuable secrets.

whole book? You can know

what smart students know.

There are only twelve principles.

Jodie Randisi has been an educator for over 25 If you can remember the zodiac, or
years. She is passionate about helping people remove names of the months, you can
obstacles. Her specialty is making information easy to digest certainly learn these important life-
in ways that are enjoyable. Many people don’t have time to changing principles.
read everything they want or need to read, which is why she He
collects, reduces, and publishes interesting information in certainly
looks
user-friendly formats. brilliant!

PLEASE NOTE: Excerpts from the Experts is not meant

to replace books. These articles are, however, meant to help
people sort through the mountains of information that
threaten to consume our precious time. If the condensed
information provided here makes sense, then Jodie
recommends reading from material from its original source.

Your success in school, your grades and

how much you learn is entirely up to you.
12 Principles
Principle # 1
NOBODY CAN TEACH YOU AS WELL AS YOU
CAN TEACH YOURSELF
While teachers tell you what you have to learn, how
you learn that material is your business. Adapt
situations to your learning needs, not the other way
around. No teacher, no matter how gifted or
dedicated, knows how you think and process
information better than you do.
Principle # 2
MERELY LISTENING TO YOUR TEACHERS
AND COMPLETING THEIR ASSIGNMENTS IS
NEVER ENOUGH
Think of your teachers and assignments as the
framework around which true personalized learning is
built. Be constantly on the lookout for new and better
sources of information and new and better ways to
learn.
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Principle # 3
NOT EVERYTHING YOU ARE ASSIGNED
TO READ OR ASKED TO DO IS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT
Set priorities and plan ahead. Budget your time and
focus on the most important tasks on your agenda.
Apply this principle to your studying as well.
Recognize the value of concentrating your learning
efforts on the most important aspects of a course
rather than becoming overwhelmed by trying to
absorb everything.
Principle # 4
GRADES ARE JUST SUBECTIVE OPINIONS
Don’t get overly upset with
bad grades (or overly
excited with good ones).
Since grades are important,
make sure you make it a
point to get to know the
personal likes, dislikes, and
biases of the person who decides them – your teacher.
Principle # 5
MAKING MISTAKES (AND OCCASIONALLY
APPEARING FOOLISH) IS THE PRICE YOU
PAY FOR LEARNING AND IMPROVING
In the learning process, mistakes are as important as
successes. Young children have a nearly unlimited
aptitude for learning because of their willingness to
make mistakes.
Principle # 6
THE POINT OF A QUESTION IS TO GET YOU
TO THINK – NOT SIMPLY TO ANSWER IT
Look for different perspectives, different answers,
and different methods to solve problems. See
questions as challenges, not threats, and approach
obvious answers with skepticism.
 12 Principles

Once you see yourself as a smart student

you will act and learn like one.
Principle # 7
YOU ARE IN SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO
THINK FOR YOURSELF, NOT TO REPEAT
WHAT TEXTBOOKS AND TEACHERS TELL YOU

Take nothing at face value. Question everything. Only

through constant challenging and reaching beyond
limitations does anyone learn anything of significance.

Principle # 8
SUBJECTS DO NOT ALWAYS SEEM
INTERESTING OR RELEVANT BUT BEING
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LEARM THEM IS
BETTER THAN BEING PASSIVELY BORED AND
NOT LEARNING
Principle # 10
HOW WELL YOU DO IN SCHOOL REFLECTS
Be willing, even eager to learn things that other students YOUR ATTITUDE AND YOUR METHOD,
might find boring. You may not be interested in the NOT YOUR ABILITY
subject, but you can be interested in your questions
about it. If you are bored or distracted, it means you Don’t take academic mistakes or disappointments
aren’t learning. Do something about it. Learning is personally. There’s nothing wrong with you; it’s just
ongoing and you must uphold your end or discovery your attitude or method that needs adjusting. The
comes to a screeching halt. material is the material. There will always be
something you don’t understand.
Principle # 9
FEW THINGS ARE AS POTENTIALLY
Principle # 11
DIFFICULT, FRUSTRATING, OR IF YOU’RE DOING IT FOR THE GRADES OR
FRIGHTENING AS GENUINE LEARNING THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS, YOU’RE
YET NOTHING IS MORE EMPOWERING MISSING THE SATISFACTION OF THE
PROCESS AND PUTTING YOUR SELF-
Learning does not end when the bell rings or you ESTEEM AT THE MERCY OF THINGS
grab your diploma. Learning is the stuff of life. OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL
The alternative to questioning, grasping, and
moving forward every day of your life is much Work hard for yourself. Work hard and excel
more restful but far less exciting and gratifying. because it makes you feel good, and because you
It takes courage and hard work to tackle the realize that you alone will live with the consequences
unknown, but of your education. Praise is
each time you do great, but its flip side is
it will be easier disapproval, which can
and less derail learning. True
frightening. gratification comes from
within.

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 COWCATCHER PUBLICATIONS

Principle 12
SCHOOL IS A GAME, BUT IT’S
A VERY IMPORTANT GAME

Keep everything in perspective.

Play to Win!

Smart students know learning is a lifetime habit.

The world is packed with opportunities for smart students. Those who appreciate
adventure, explorations, discovery and creativity will never lack for possibilities.
For those who continue to learn, the choices are endless.

The world is so miraculous and full of wonder that your imagination at its most
creative moment cannot encompass it. Paths will open leading to worlds beyond
your wildest dreams. If this sounds like a pitch for the latest recreational drug,
it may be. The drug is adrenaline, and your body automatically generates it
when you are growing, risking, and discovering new worlds.

Jodie’s presentations are perfect for

The cowcatcher recommends… leadership conferences, retreats,
freshmen orientation, Welcome Week
Keep a journal. programs, student activities,
Take a seminar. association and club meetings.
Read, watch and listen. Travel.
Take an unrelated class.
Take advantage of counseling.
Form a support group.
Find a mentor or become one.
COWCATCHER
publications & presentations
Do something you 372 Fort Howell Drive
think you can’t do.
Hilton Head, SC 29926
jodie.randisi@gmail.com